Dough former



C. A. KERWIN March 3, 1936.

DOUGH FORMER Filed June 26, 1933 FIG-.2.

INVENTOR QKIRWIN R M RLES Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOUGH FORMER Application June 26, 1933, Serial No. 677,586

4 Claims.

This invention relates to dough formers and cutters whereby the dough may be formed and delivered directly to the cooking receptacle and has for its object a structure capable of being manually supported and operated.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

While the present invention is of general application and use, it is particularly intended for the cutting and forming of doughnuts and to deliver the cut and formed dough masses directly to the cooking fluid. Heretofore, there have been automatic machines for the forming and cooking of doughnuts, which incorporated a cutter and former that delivered the formed dough masses directly to the cooking fluid but these machines have all been large and expensive apparatus for mass production and have not been suitable for limited production.

Also prior hereto there have been manually operable doughnut formers or cutters which have consisted of a flexible bag in which the dough supply Was placed and from one end of which it is forced by pressure from the hand of the operator. At the discharge end of this bag is located the doughnut former into which the dough is forced from the bag and from which it is discharged in formed masses. The operation of this device is such that it must be supported by legs in an elevated position upon and over a surface and be manually operated by one hand of the operator while the other hand creates the pressure upon the bag. Each time a formed dough mass is placed upon the supporting surface the position of the former or cutter must be changed. After the dough masses have been formed and deposited on the supporting surface they must be manually transferred from the supporting surface to the cooking receptacle or fluid.

The present invention contemplates a device having a flexible bag with the former at one end thereof which may be supported and operated by one hand of the operator while the opposite hand of the operator creates the pressure on the bag or sack containing the dough supply whereby the dough within the sack may be forced into and through the former. In this manner the entire operation of the device may take place over the cooking receptacle so that the formed dough masses drop directly into the cooking fluid.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawing, Ii! indicates a flexible bag in which the dough supply is placed. At its lower end 5 this bag II] is attached to a metal ring or collar H in which is formed a bayonet slot I2. This collar II is designed to be removably attached to the former so that the lower end of the bag I!) will discharge the dough directly into the former.

A main cylinder l3 having an outstanding pin l4 adjoining one end is so received within the collar II that the pin I4 thereof will be seated in the bayonet slot l2 thereby removably attaching the cylinder l3 to the collar H to form a continuation thereof. 7

A spider I5 is located within the cylinder l3 and carries a shaft l6 which is coincidental with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The lower end of this shaft I6 protrudes beyond the lower end of the cylinder l3 and carries a valve ll of a diameter approximately equal to the exterior diameter of said cylinder. It will' be manifest that the valve l I is so positioned with reference to the end of the cylinder I3 that there is a space provided between the outer endof the cylinder I3 and the body of the valve ll. Thus, when pressure is exerted upon the sack or bag ill by one hand of the operator the dough contained within the sack I0 is forced downwardly into and through the cylinder [3, and, when permitted, outwardly through the space between the end of the cylinder 13 and the valve H.

A cylindrical cutter I8 is mounted for reciprocation upon the exterior of the cylinder l3 and has its lower edge beveled, as at I9, for coaction with the valve I! to sever the dough mass discharged through the opening between the valve and the cylinder l3 from the body of the dough within the cylinder l3. The diameter of this cutter 18 somewhat exceeds the diameter of the valve I! so that at the lower end of the downward movement of the cutter l8 the valve l1 may be received therein. When the cutter I8 is elevated the space between the outer end of the cylinder 13 and the valve I! is unobstructed so that a portion of the dough within the cylinder l3 may be forced outwardly through said space in a formed dough mass or ring. The lowering of the cutter l8 toward the valve l1 closes this space and the cutting edge IQ of the cutter l8 coacts with the periphery of the valve I! to completely sever the mass so discharged from the mass of the dough within the cylinder [3 and close the space between the end of the cylinder l3 and the valve ll.

In order to operate the mechanism above described a supporting handle 20 is provided having its inner end forked to create the spaced arms 2| which embrace the upper end of the cylinder l3. The ends of these arms 2| are pierced by apertures through which a pin 22 passes to be mounted in aligned apertures or openings formed in the cylinder I3. One end of this pin 22 is angularly bent, as at 23, for the manipulation thereof and the body thereof contained within the cylinder I3 is encased by a cylindrical sheath 24. By removing the pin 22 from the aligned openings in the arms gaged from the cylinder so that the cylinder [3 and the parts carried thereby maybe removed from the cutter I8 thereby permitting the. device ,t

to be thoroughly cleaned. Adjoining the juncture between the arms 2| and the body of'the handle20 is a socket 24, the function and utility of which will hereafter more fully described. Adjoining the socket 24 and projecting from the under side of the handle 20 is a pair of spaced studs 25. V t w For the movement of the cutter l8 relatively to the cylinder l3 and also relatively to the handle 20, a, lever 26 is pivoted between the spaced studs 25. At its inner end this lever is bifurcated to create a pair of arms 21, similar to the arms 2 I, which embrace the upper end of the cutter l8. At the juncture of the arms21 the lever 28 is pro- Vided with a socket 28 which is aligned with the socket 24 of the handle 20. An expansible coil spring 29 is mounted in these sockets 24-28 and handle 20.

tends to separate the bifurcated ends of the handle 20 and lever 26. As the arms 21 of the lever 26 are attached to the cutter I 8, the operation of the spring 29 is such that the normal operation of the device is to force the arms 21 downwardly and to impart a similar movement to the cutter l8 so that the cutter encircles and embraces the valve Hand closes the space between the outer end of the cylinder [3 and said valve.

In order to operate the cutter I8 against the action of the spring 29 so that it may be elevated at intervals to permit dough to be discharged through the space between the valve l1 and the ends of the cutter l8 and the cylinder 13, the outer end of the lever 26 is bent outwardly and upwardly topass and extend above the body of the handle 20 at a point somewhat removed from the outer end of said handle to create a finger piece 30 positioned above and across the body of the Thus, the extremity 3i of the handle 20 may betgrasped by the hand of the operator with the thumb extending over and contacting with the finger piece 30. Pressure upon the finger piece 30 may move the outer end of the lever 26 downwardly untilthe finger piece contacts with the body of the handle 20 during which movement the arms 21 move upwardly toward the arms 2| thereby elevating the cutter l8 and unobstructing the space between the lower endof the cylinder [3 and the valve 11 to permit the discharge of dough through such space. This movement of the lever 26 is against the action of the spring 29. When pressure is removedfrom the fingerpiece 30, the spring29 lowers the arms 21 and causes the outer end of the lever 2 6 to move of the handle 20 and in the other direction by the coaction of the handle 20 and the body of the lever 26.

In order to connect the outer extremities of the arms 21 with the cutter l8 a toggle arm 32 is positioned against the outer surface of the cutter l8 upon each side thereof and at its lower end is pivoted, as at 33, to the cutter l8 adjoining the cutting edge l9 thereof. The upper end of each toggle arm 32 is pivoted, as at 34, to the outer end of one of the arms 21. In this manner the outer 2| and wall of the cylinder I3, the supporting handle 20 and its associated parts may be disen-- ends of the arms 21 are connected to the lower end of the cutter [8 in such manner that ample lost motion is provided for the relative movement of the several parts.

From the foregoing it is manifest that the handle 20 may be engaged at 3| by the hand of the operator with the thumb bearing upon the finger piece 30 While the other hand of the operator engages the upper'end of the bag ll]. When so held the discharge end of the former may be held over the cooking receptacle and pressure applied to the finger piece 30 to elevate the cutter l8 at which time pressure on the sack H3 causesdough to flow through the space between the valve l1 and the outer ends of the cutter l8 and cylinder l3. v Immediately upon the release of'the fingerpiee 30 the cutter I8 is lowered under the'influence of the spring 29 severing the formed dough mass thus discharged and closing the space between the outer end of the cylinder l3 and the valve I 1. The formed doughmass thus formed and severed drops directly into the cooking vessel and subsequent dough masses may be formed and released in the same manner. v

It is apparent that the present device may be entirely supported the hands of the operator and so manipulated that the formed dough masses will be discharged directly into the cook ing receptacle thereby eliminating at least one operation and insuring a. uniform product.

" What is claimed is:- i

1. The combination with a dough former, including relatively movable parts, of a handle having a pair of arms at one end thereof to embrace and be pivoted to one of said parts, of a lever pivoted to said handle having a pair of arms at one end thereof to embrace and be secured to another of said parts, and a finger piece on said levercoacting with and crossing said handle.

2. The combination with a dough former, in eluding relatively movable parts, of a handle having a pair of arms at one end thereof to embrace and be pivoted to one of said parts, of a lever pivoted to said handle having a pair of arms at one end thereof to embrace and be secured to another of said parts, said lever and handle having aligned sockets, and a coil spring interposed be tween said lever and handle and seated'in said sockets.

3. The combination with a dough former, having relatively movable parts, of a handle having a grip at one end and a pair of arms at the other to embrace and be pivoted to one of said parts, and a lever pivoted to said handle having one end bent laterally across said handle adjoining the grip thereof, and a pair of arms at the opposite end to embrace and be pivoted to another of said parts.

4. The combination with a dough former, having relatively movable parts, of a handle having a grip at one end and a pair of arms at the other to span and be removably pivoted to one of said 7 parts, a lever pivoted to said handle having a finger piece at one end and a pair of arms at the other to span and be pivoted to another of said parts, and a spring interposed between said lever and said handle adjoining said arms.

CHARLES A. KIRWIN. 

